Belimumab (Benlysta) is a drug used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus. This drug uses monoclonal antibodies in order to fight the infection throughout the body. Monoclonal antibodies are used as a more effective way to diagnose an infection in the body, as well as provide an effective treatment. These antibodies are made from a fusion between animal B cells that produce antibodies against a certain antigen, and myeloma cells that continuously divide. The fused cell is called a hybridoma cell and it clonally expands and produces antibodies that are all identically the same and specific for the antigen that originally activated the B cell. Benlysta is a drug made from this type of antibody and acts to block the B cell stimulator protein to prevent B cells from activating. If the B cells don’t activate, they cannot produce the antibodies that attack the body and cause lupus.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s own tissues with an immune response. This leads to flare ups of inflammatory responses and overall fatigue. Benlysta is designed to be used in addition to another drug that treats lupus. It is said to reduce flare ups, reduce the disease activity of the immune response, and decrease the steroid doses given to patients. Along with the benefits of this type of treatment, this medication can produce many side effects.
Those include:
- nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain
- fever
- cough, sore throat
- heart problems
- migraine
- leg or arm pain
- allergic reactions: difficulty breathing, swelling of areas around the face and neck, low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, rash, redness
- mental health issues: suicide, insomnia, changes in mood or behavior
- painful urination
- sores on body
- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: life threatening brain infection
- increased risk of cancer
These symptoms discussed can worsen the overall effects that systemic lupus has on the body. Lupus produces pain in areas around the body, fatigue and some depressive swings, as well as rashes and swelling. These symptoms are similar to the side effects of the medication so this issues could be compounded rather than diminished. This is why its important to take precautions before trying new medications and treatments. The type of antibody produced in this medication can cross the placenta. The effects of this are not certain, but should be taken into consideration. Receiving live vaccines while on this medication is advised against. This is due to the fact that antibodies bind to proteins that activate B cells to attack an invader in the body. If a live vaccine is given, it would interact with the antibody protection this medication is providing and could cause it to become ineffective or cause serious side effects. Serious considerations of these side effects should be taken before trying this medication, even though the purposeful effects may seem promising.
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